THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MU'TAZILA IN THE SPREAD OF ISLAMIC DA'WAH

Kontribusi Muktazilah dalam Penyebaran Dakwah Islam

Abstract

In the effort to spread Islamic teachings within society, individuals with commitment and responsibility are needed. Every Muslim has a duty to promote the truth and prevent wrongdoing (al-amr bi al-ma’ruf wa al-nahy ‘an al-munkar), known as the task of da'wah. This role was also undertaken by the Mu'tazila, who played a significant part in spreading Islamic teachings and defending them against attacks from other religions such as Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and materialists. However, the presence and role of the Mu'tazila in history have faced controversial scrutiny from those outside their movement. Negative portrayals, such as those by Sirajuddin Abbas, describe the Mu'tazila as a group that caused upheaval in the early centuries of Islam by prioritizing reason over the Quran and Hadith. This negative perception, which has long existed in the Islamic world, has led to general disdain, including among Muslims in Indonesia. Conversely, positive assessments can be found in later writers such as Ahmad Amin and Sheikh Musthafa al-Gurabi. Al-Gurabi noted that without the Mu'tazila, the development of Ilmu Kalam and the defense of Islam from external attacks might not have been possible. This raises the question of why the significant contributions of the Mu'tazila in spreading and defending Islam are often overlooked. This paper seeks to address this question.